National Arthritis Week runs from the 4th-10th April 2022.
The theme this year is “Let’s Get Physical!” and is based around physical activity and its importance for people living with arthritis. Arthritis Ireland is encouraging people living with arthritis to try even small amounts of physical activity, which they say can help you stay strong and remain independent. Being active can have a big impact on the health and wellbeing of people with the condition. Arthritis Ireland are bringing back their 5km a Day challenge to coincide with their week-long campaign to raise awareness around arthritis.
What is Arthritis?
The word arthritis is used to describe pain, swelling and stiffness in a joint or joints. It can affect people of all ages – even children and teenagers.
Arthritis can make life tough by causing pain and making it harder to get about. The symptoms of arthritis can vary from week to week, and even from day to day. Many types, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are long-term conditions.
Although there’s no cure, treatments have improved greatly in recent years and, for many types of arthritis, particularly inflammatory arthritis, there’s a clear benefit in starting treatment at an early stage.
With the right treatment and approach, you can improve and manage your symptoms.
Doing regular exercise will keep muscles around a joint strong, and this will help to support and stabilise a joint affected by osteoarthritis. Keeping active will also reduce pain, stiffness and swelling.
Physiotherapy can be of great assistance to sufferers by providing:
- Pain relief in times of flare-ups
- Inflammation reduction
- Exercise prescription to protect vulnerable joints
- Advice on joint care and protection
- Provision of aids such as splints and orthotics, where indicated
- Advice on independent management
- Referral to allied health professionals e.g. occupational therapists, dieticians and medical specialists
If you have pain in or around a joint or joints that doesn’t go away after a few days, you should see a Chartered Physiotherapist. Finding out what’s causing your pain is key to finding the right treatment, self-help options and a better quality of life.
We are here to help.
Click here to make an appointment or contact us by phone 289-7171 or email info@southsidephysio.com for further information.